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The Peabody Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$1.3M
Grant Range
$8K - $0.4M

The Peabody Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,326,590 (FY 2024)
  • Total Assets: $35.7 million
  • Grant Range: $8,000 - $360,000
  • Median Grant: $25,000
  • Average Grant: $44,550
  • Number of Grants: 25-30 annually
  • Geographic Focus: Massachusetts only
  • Application Process: By invitation only - does not accept unsolicited applications

Contact Details

Address: 20 Wickertree, Plymouth, MA 02360-2548

Phone: (508) 728-8780

EIN: 04-2104767

Executive Director: Judith E. Rhoades

Overview

The Peabody Foundation Inc is a private foundation established in September 1939, with a focused mission of supporting children with physical disabilities. With total assets of $35.7 million and annual charitable disbursements of $1.3 million, the foundation makes approximately 25-30 grants per year exclusively to Massachusetts organizations. The foundation's grant-making is limited to providing care, treatment, rehabilitation, education, and assistance to children with physical disabilities, and to encouraging and supporting medical research in the causes of crippling disease, particularly in children. The foundation operates with a 15-member board of trustees and employs one executive director. All grants are made to preselected organizations, and the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Over the past seven years, the foundation has awarded 213 grants, demonstrating a consistent commitment to organizations serving children with disabilities through medical care, recreational programs, and research initiatives.

Funding Priorities

Grant Focus

The Peabody Foundation makes grants exclusively for programs benefiting children with physical disabilities and related medical research. All grants must align with the foundation's mission of providing care, treatment, rehabilitation, education, and assistance to children with physical disabilities.

Priority Areas

Based on grant history over seven years, the foundation has prioritized:

  • Recreation & Sports (28 grants) - Including adaptive sailing programs and camps for children with disabilities
  • Arts, Culture & Humanities (20 grants) - Programs providing cultural enrichment for children with disabilities
  • Health Care (16 grants) - Medical institutions providing treatment and care for children with physical disabilities
  • Medical Research - Research into causes and treatments of crippling diseases in children

Recent Grant Recipients (2023-2024)

  • Boston Children's Hospital - $360,000 (benefiting handicapped children & related research)
  • Massachusetts General Hospital - $290,000 (benefiting handicapped children & related research)
  • Shriner's Hospital for Children - $67,000 (benefiting handicapped children & related research)
  • Martha's Vineyard Cerebral Palsy Camp - $50,000 (benefiting handicapped children & related research)
  • Professional Nurses Chapter of Brigham and Women's Hospital - $50,000 (benefiting handicapped children & related research)
  • Piers Park Sailing Center - $50,000 (benefiting handicapped children & related research)

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations outside Massachusetts
  • General charitable purposes not directly related to children with physical disabilities
  • Programs serving adults exclusively
  • Organizations without a clear connection to the foundation's mission of supporting children with physical disabilities

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees (2024)

The foundation is governed by a 15-member board of trustees, all serving without compensation:

  • Christopher D. Perry, Esq. - President
  • Mary Liz Van Dyck - Vice President
  • John Ea Safford - Treasurer
  • Bethany M. Woods - Clerk
  • David C. Brooks, MD
  • Sarah L. Christie
  • Daniel R. Davis
  • Joseph C. Donnelly Jr.
  • John H. Emmons Jr.
  • Meredith T. Johnson
  • David W. Manzo
  • Jane Otte
  • Ethan R. Parten
  • David P. Simmons, MD
  • Jeremy T. Smith, MD

Staff

  • Judith E. Rhoades - Executive Director (Compensation: $45,000)

The board includes several medical professionals (three MDs) and legal expertise, reflecting the foundation's focus on medical care and research for children with disabilities.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Peabody Foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

According to foundation information, grant application formats are available upon request for preselected organizations, with an application deadline of February 1st of each year. However, this process is only available to organizations already known to and selected by the foundation's board of trustees.

Decision Timeline

For preselected organizations invited to apply, the foundation operates on an annual cycle with a February 1st deadline. Decision timelines for invited applicants are not publicly disclosed.

Understanding This Funder's Approach

Grant-Making Pattern

The Peabody Foundation demonstrates a highly focused grant-making strategy:

Consistent Recipients: The foundation appears to maintain long-term relationships with key medical institutions in Massachusetts, including Boston Children's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Shriner's Hospital for Children, which receive substantial multi-year support.

Range of Grant Sizes: While the foundation makes major grants to large medical institutions ($67,000 - $360,000), it also supports smaller community-based programs serving children with disabilities, with grants ranging down to $8,000.

Emphasis on Direct Service: Recent grant recipients include a mix of major medical centers conducting research and treatment, alongside community organizations providing recreational and educational opportunities for children with disabilities, such as sailing programs and specialized camps.

Geographic Limitation: 100% of grants are made to Massachusetts-based organizations over the foundation's documented history.

Types of Organizations Funded

Based on the foundation's recent grant history, funded organizations include:

  • Major pediatric medical centers and hospitals
  • Children's rehabilitation facilities
  • Specialized camps and recreational programs for children with disabilities
  • Research institutions focusing on pediatric physical disabilities
  • Community-based programs providing adaptive sports and activities
  • Professional nursing organizations supporting children with disabilities

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation Only: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Organizations must be identified and selected by the foundation's board of trustees before being invited to apply.
  • Highly Specific Mission: The foundation has a narrow, well-defined focus on children with physical disabilities - programs must clearly demonstrate alignment with this mission.
  • Massachusetts Only: The foundation exclusively funds Massachusetts-based organizations. Out-of-state organizations are not eligible.
  • Mix of Grant Sizes: While major medical institutions receive six-figure grants, the foundation also funds smaller community programs, suggesting flexibility in grant amounts based on organizational size and project scope.
  • Long-Term Relationships: Grant recipients appear to include organizations with established track records in serving children with disabilities, suggesting the foundation values proven impact and sustainability.
  • Medical and Recreational Balance: The foundation supports both direct medical care/research and quality-of-life programs (recreation, arts, camps) that enhance the lives of children with physical disabilities.
  • Professional Board: The inclusion of medical doctors and legal professionals on the board suggests applications (for invited organizations) should be professionally prepared with clear medical relevance and sound organizational governance.

References

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